1: Ways to kill and ways to help an idea

It is far easier to kill an idea than to encourage it and turn it into a useful
solution. Be careful not to destroy people's ideas or they will stop telling
you about them and go and tell someone else.

It is extremely hard to sound constructive when someone tells you about an idea
they have had, especially if the idea seems foolish and unworkable. But remember,
people do not willingly put forward bad ideas in normal situations and you should
first try to understand why they are telling you about the idea. There is likely
to be something in the idea which is very useful to you. Alternatively you will
have the opportunity to help them understand why the idea will not work. You
must first understand why they think it will work if you are to explain it in
a way that they appreciate.

To kill an idea, say ...

A good idea, but ...

Good in theory, but ...

Be practical, that's too futuristic

People won't like it

Costs too much

Don't start anything yet

It needs more study

It's not budgeted, maybe next year

It's not good enough

Too much hassle

Let's make a survey first

Against the company policy

It's not part of your job

It is not our problem

The directors won't go for it

The old timers won't use it

Too hard to organize

We have been doing it another way for a long time and it works fine

If it's so good, why hasn't someone suggested it already?

Ahead of its time, people are not ready for it

Let's sit on it a while

Let's discuss it (*and then not doing so*)

We've never done it that way before

Has anyone else tried it successfully?

We have tried that before and it didn't work

Just ignoring what they have said.

Is anyone crazy enough to try that?

We're already doing that.

Let me show it to my manager

or you can just ignore the person and their idea! (Is this wise?)

To help an idea, say ...

Yes, and ...

That's a good idea/point/comment

Great, let's try it

How can we make time to see if it will work?

What resources would we need to do it?

Let's prove everyone else/the boss wrong

Tell me more

How can we make it work?

Let's try and test it

What are the advantages?

How can we remove the dis-advantages?

Can you draw up a plan of action?

What can I do to help this happen?

I like it

That sounds interesting, tell me more

Ignore the way it is done now

What small parts of the idea can we use immediately in the current situation?

How can we convince everyone else?

Let's turn the idea into a workable solution

and you can

look enthusiastic and interested

listen and try to understand why it is being suggested

not interrupt until they are finished

build on their idea

Hopefully you will see that there are many ways in which you can be constructive.
There are even ways to encourage an idea without saying you agree or that you
will do it. Be on a constant watchout for putting down an idea too early without
understanding the positive reasons for it being suggested.

Please
email
and tell us your own experiences and ways to kill and help an idea and we will
add them to our list. The more the better.
Click on the green door to continue the green (Advanced Brainstorming) tour
or click on the house to return to the table of contents.